How much salt to increase blood pressure?

[Ambivalent Dreams]

My blood pressure has been pretty low and I think my iron is probably low too. So, with the combo, I'm not feeling so great. I've read that you can raise blood pressure by eating more salt. But, how much more? I can't find an amount anywhere.

[MaerynPearl]

all i was ever told by my doctor was more... not an amount. I suppose its probably not something you can really put an actual amount on as it depends on your own body.

[ScarletBegonias]

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[HonkyTonka]

Originally Posted by ScarletBegonias

you probably already know this, but make sure when you increase your salt you are using SEA SALT, and not table salt. but since you're here on mdc you probably already know that!

Why?

[47chromosomes]

I've been having low blood pressure (well, I always do, but through being pregnant into the mix and an increasing blood supply...), and also found out I am running low on iron. I've been focusing on eating lots of iron rich foods, and I also have increased sodium intake. I have not tried a certain amount, I just eat a few chips, or make fries as a side dish at dinner--you know, just swap out a couple things you might eat that are non-salty for some salty stuff. I haven't had bp taken in a while, or iron rechecked. I do feel a little better, but maybe I'm just adjusting. Hope you feel well soon.

[MaerynPearl]

I tested borderline for iron... since fixing that and focusing on more sodium intake, my blood pressure today was a beautiful 114/70

[ScarletBegonias]

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[is it puppies?]

We have started using organic Himalayan salt, and though I have read mixed things it also seems to be quite full of minerals still.

[HonkyTonka]

Originally Posted by ScarletBegonias

The salt that you find in table salt and most processed foods is sodium chloride. Salt in this form has been processed at high temperatures, which changes the molecular structure and removes vital minerals from the salt.

We have been told for years to avoid salt, but following this advice can lead to even more problems. We are all salty on the inside--our blood, sweat, tears, and even our urine--it's all salty. It's important to replenish the salt in our body, using the right salt is what makes all the difference in the world. The best way to put salt back into your body is to use sea salt, sea salt also contain dozens of minerals that are essential for body function.

Have you seen all the stuff in the news about table salt lately? Table salt is practically toxic. While health-nuts have known this for years, it's just now being accepted in the general public that table salt = bad and sea salt = good.

Perhaps this is the wrong place for this discussion, but I respectfully disagree. (Aside from your comments about humans needing salt...)

Salt is salt. Both table salt and sea salt are sodium chloride. Sure, there are trace minerals in sea salt - but not enough to make it more worthwhile eating than table salt. If the molecular structure of a compound is changed (under heat, for instance), the new compound receives a new name. Salt is an ionic compound anyway - composed of sodium and chloride. All this is to say, the chemical composition of both table and sea salt is essentially the same (table salt has iodine, sea salt may have iodine and has trace minerals).
Sea salt is exotic and well-marketed, not necessarily more healthful.

With respect to the OP, my OB said not to take my low blood pressure for an excuse to increase my salt. He said my body would figure it out. (Plus, if you increase your salt, you'll retain more water...)

[ScarletBegonias]

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[dannic]

I'd have low blood pressure for each pregnancy and they've always specified sea salt. Not really getting into the debate, but I always thought the difference being more in the realm of white flour (highly processed) vs. whole wheat flour (less processed).

OP, I've been told to do a pinch of sea salt under the tongue (better absorbtion) and then occasionally add a pinch to my water, and salt all food to taste. I def. feel better when I do these.

[HonkyTonka]

Originally Posted by ScarletBegonias

fine, it's not something people like to hear. i knew i shouldn't have even responded to your question. i could tell right away that you would disagree, but i was hoping you were genuinely interested. no matter what you *think* about table salt, the effects of table salt and sea salt are different on the body. (it reminds me of the guy who told me that irradiated food is the same as regular food ).

as far as increasing salt=retaining water - that is NOT the case. maybe the case with TABLE salt. you actually NEED salt to get rid of water. sodium works together with albumin to maintain normal circulating blood volume.

If you increase salt without increasing water, you will retain water to maintain an adequate salt balance based on the principle of osmosis.

I am interested to know why you think that table salt and sea salt have different effects in the body. I truly want to investigate this (because I find it so impossible and I am curious). Clearly I have my own views about the subject (which I think are worthwhile to voice also) but my mind is not closed. Please show me where you learned this or where I can learn more.

[ScarletBegonias]

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[ScarletBegonias]

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[Ambivalent Dreams]

dannic: Was that one pinch a day? ETA: About how many of your glasses of water do you add salt to each day? Or is it less than 1 a day?

About sea salt vs table salt. The thing I don't like about table salt (and some of the "processed" sea salts) is that they have anti-caking agents such as yellow prussiate of soda. I don't really care if my salt has been heated, but I don't like it to have other stuff added to it.

[Ambivalent Dreams]

Oops. Sorry, I didn't see the last two posts before I posted for some reason. I am 16 weeks. At my apt last week, my blood pressure was 90/70. The time before it was 90/68. I do get dizzy and my vision kinda goes dark when I stand up quickly and when I get up to go to the bathroom at night. I'm really sluggish, but I don't know if that is b/c of the blood pressure or iron or both. I'm not even sure my iron is low, but I have been having some wacky cravings and I was anemic during my last pregnancy. That with the fact that I have no energy make me think that's whats going on again this time. I went to the store last night about bought some red meat and am having black beans and brown rice for supper so I'm trying to attack this on all fronts.

[HonkyTonka]

Originally Posted by ScarletBegonias

ok, osmosis doesn't apply in this case. the way sodium works in the blood/body is not a principle based on osmosis.

i don't *think* table salt and sea salt have different effects on the body, research and studies prove it so. it's not my opinion, it's the facts.

most of the general population (including health care professionals) have a misguided and outdated idea about salt in general. keep in mind that salt is not the same as sodium. most people believe as you stated "salt is salt", but that is not the case. a highly processed product is not the same as a naturally occurring product. would you say that water you drink out of a mountain stream is the same as bottled "drinking" water? of course not! because they aren't the same. yes, they are both water. but no, they do not have the same mineral content, and the processed drinking water will contain chemicals from the processing and chemicals from the bottle it comes in. just like my well water is not the same as my friends chlorinated, fluoridated municipal tap water.

according to my midwifery textbooks, and the recently publishes studies in the news, only salt combined with chlorine (NOT chloride), which is table salt, has a negative effect on blood pressure. sea salt does not have a negative effect, because the body recognizes it as sodium and can therefore utilize the sodium to do what it needs to do.

Salts (there are many types) are formed by the association of 2 ions. An ion is an element (from the periodic table) that either looses or gains an electron and becomes positively or negatively charged. A salt happens when a positively charged ion associates with a negatively charged ion. When in solution, the ions dissociate.

"Salt" as the general public knows it, refers to sodium chloride (NaCl). Sodium is the positively charged ion, and chloride is the negatively charged ion. When you put "salt" into solution, like when you eat it, the sodium and chloride ions break apart (dissolve) and can be used for different functions in the body act separately in your body.

Your discussion of the role of sodium in the body has nothing to do with my argument that sea salt and table salt are the same chemical compound.

Your example of spring water VS tap water is not an appropriate argument. I agree that spring water and tap water are different, just as table salt and sea salt are different. But, removing all the impurities of spring and tap water, you get the same thing - pure H2O, just as removing all the impurities of "salt" you get pure NaCl. The sodium and chloride ions are INDISTINGUISHABLE by the body. This is fact.

Salt combined with chlorine or salt containing chlorine not chloride?

If you mean salt containing chlorine - then I am sorry, you are mistaken. The chlorine element forms a salt with sodium as a chloride ion. Almost all of the salt in the ocean comes from sodium chloride, not sodium chlorine (sodium chlorine is not a salt - it might not even exist).

My original argument was that sea salt (with its impurities) is, in my opinion, not as valuable health-wise as some make it out to be. I also think that the refining process to make table salt is not harmful. Perhaps you are advocating that the combination of the trace minerals in sea salt with the salt is important for your body. To that I say, a diverse diet in fruit and veg will supply you with the minerals your body needs.

On a side note, sea salt (coming from the sea) could also contain all sorts of nasty chemicals. People don't respect the oceans as they should.

[HonkyTonka]

Originally Posted by Ambivalent Dreams

About sea salt vs table salt. The thing I don't like about table salt (and some of the "processed" sea salts) is that they have anti-caking agents such as yellow prussiate of soda. I don't really care if my salt has been heated, but I don't like it to have other stuff added to it.

I can understand your concern about the anit-caking agents (just make sure you get enough iodine!)

[minta]

OP, I was having the same problems with this pregnancy and my OB also recommended that I increase my sodium intake. As per a previous poster, I've just been making an effort to snack on salty things like pretzels, have been salting my vegetables at dinner etc... etc... and my BP is finally normal. And I *definitely* feel better. God luck!

[expat-mama]

Originally Posted by HonkyTonka

Salts (there are many types) are formed by the association of 2 ions. An ion is an element (from the periodic table) that either looses or gains an electron and becomes positively or negatively charged. A salt happens when a positively charged ion associates with a negatively charged ion. When in solution, the ions dissociate.

"Salt" as the general public knows it, refers to sodium chloride (NaCl). Sodium is the positively charged ion, and chloride is the negatively charged ion. When you put "salt" into solution, like when you eat it, the sodium and chloride ions break apart (dissolve) and can be used for different functions in the body act separately in your body.

Your discussion of the role of sodium in the body has nothing to do with my argument that sea salt and table salt are the same chemical compound.

Your example of spring water VS tap water is not an appropriate argument. I agree that spring water and tap water are different, just as table salt and sea salt are different. But, removing all the impurities of spring and tap water, you get the same thing - pure H2O, just as removing all the impurities of "salt" you get pure NaCl. The sodium and chloride ions are INDISTINGUISHABLE by the body. This is fact.

Salt combined with chlorine or salt containing chlorine not chloride?

If you mean salt containing chlorine - then I am sorry, you are mistaken. The chlorine element forms a salt with sodium as a chloride ion. Almost all of the salt in the ocean comes from sodium chloride, not sodium chlorine (sodium chlorine is not a salt - it might not even exist).

My original argument was that sea salt (with its impurities) is, in my opinion, not as valuable health-wise as some make it out to be. I also think that the refining process to make table salt is not harmful. Perhaps you are advocating that the combination of the trace minerals in sea salt with the salt is important for your body. To that I say, a diverse diet in fruit and veg will supply you with the minerals your body needs.

On a side note, sea salt (coming from the sea) could also contain all sorts of nasty chemicals. People don't respect the oceans as they should.

I must agree, the facts speak clearly.
Sea salt is one of those natural products that is extremely well-marketed but ultimately is not "all it's cracked up to be".

Hope the OP feels better.